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A few months ago I became friends with someone from Georgia (the one in Eastern Europe). He got me interested in the cuisine of that nation and I eventually ordered myself a Georgian cookbook, which I now love. I've been amusing myself by trying new dishes and seeing how close I get to what the dish is supposed to be like.
Georgian cuisine is all about fresh everything, with lots of fruits and vegetables and wine. Did you know it's thought that wine grapes originated in Georgia, and that it is probably the birth place of viniculture? This is just one fact that Georgians are proud of, and believe me they are proud of everything Georgian.
A while ago I tried this recipe for sage and mint fritters called pyshki. My friend didn't really know what they were, so I hope it's just a dish from a different region than where he's from (rather than my cookbook being wrong). The fritters were really good. You basically just make a very batter-like yeasted dough, let it ferment for about an hour or so, then drop it by the spoonful into a fryer of some sort. The only problem with the original recipe is that it doesn't call for salt. I ended up sprinkling salt over the fritters as they came out of the oil and they tasted great. Very fresh and summery tasting, we used them almost like bread (because I made them too big)which is a required item at every Georgian meal. I didn't try it with Tkemali, which has become my favorite condiment, but I bet it would be a great combination. The recipe is after the jump. 1 tsp instant yeast (bread machine/rapid rise) *or 1.5 tsp active dry yeast, just remember to bloom it first
1.5 C lukewarm water
1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 TB butter
1 TB minced fresh sage
1 TB minced fresh mint
3 C all purpose four
Saute the onion in the butter until golden brown, then sett aside to cool.
Put the water, yeast, herbs and onions into a bowl and stir in enough flour to form a loose batter. Cover the batter and allow it to ferment for 1 to 1.5 hours. Heat enough vegetable oil in a skillet to fry in. I used a stock pot with a few inches of oil, but I made the fritters on the large side. The cookbook has a note not to make them too big, but mine turned out quite well. Fry the fritters, turning once, until they're lightly browned on each side. The fritters won't take on too much color, so when you see them starting to color they're probably done. Sprinkle with salt and enjoy!
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9-17-2008 @9:53PM ajdemma said... What is the name of the Georgian cookbook?
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9-18-2008 @5:06AM Berkana said... The sage in that photo looks like Bergarten sage.
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9-18-2008 @9:43AM Julie said... Those sound so delicious, what a unique flavor combination. I look forward to trying these, thank you.
http://www.noshtalgia.blogspot.com/
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9-19-2008 @8:23PM Shayna Glick said... @ ajdemma:
It's called the Georgian Feast by Darra Goldstein.
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9-22-2008 @1:54PM Anon said... Sorry for responding to an old entry, but I just saw this post and wanted to share the title of another cookbook of Georgian food with you:
The Classic Cuisine of Soviet Georgia
by Julianne Margvelashvili.
And if you check it out, be sure to try the Spinach & Walnut Spread. It's delicious!
Great blog, by the way.
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